Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a first alignment surface which induces a high pretilt greater than 45° but less than 90°; a typical value is 85°. The pretilt has a component parallel to the surface pointing in a predetermined direction. A second alignment surface induces a low pretilt which is less than 45° but greater than 0°; a typical pretilt is 5°. The low pretilt has a component parallel to the second surface which also points in the predetermined direction. A layer of crystal material is disposed in between the first and second surfaces. A novel liquid crystal mode is thus provided and is referred to as the “splay-twist mode”. Such a device may be used in a switchable public/private display.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for modifying an image to be displayed on a display includes receiving an image to be displayed on the display having a backlight and a transmissive panel. A backlight signal is provided to the backlight for causing the backlight to selectively illuminate different portions of the backlight with different characteristics. The characteristics include at least one of a different color and a difference luminance. A panel signal is provided to the panel for causing the transmissive panel to selectively change its transmittivities. At least one of the backlight signal and the panel signal are modified in a manner to reduce off-axis artifacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for reducing colour shift in relation to viewing angle in an LCD. The method includes receiving a plurality of pixel data constituting an image, each pixel data including a plurality of sub-pixel colour components having respective data values; for each of the pixel data, comparing the sub-pixel colour component data values included therein; and based on the comparison, modifying the sub-pixel colour component data values included in the pixel data with respect to two or more of the plurality of sub-pixel colour components to reduce colour shift when displayed on the LCD.

Abstract: A display device having a display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation includes a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group including a first pixel having a first type of luminance against viewing angle response, and a second pixel having a second type of luminance against viewing angle response, wherein the first and second luminance against viewing angle responses are different from one another. The display device further includes a controller operatively coupled to each of the plurality of pixel groups, wherein the controller is configured to drive each of the plurality of pixel groups such that on average the plurality of pixel groups simultaneously provide a predetermined on-axis luminance and an predetermined off-axis luminance for a region of the image corresponding to each pixel group.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A display for providing several viewing modes of different angular viewing characteristics comprises a display device and a passive optical device (9) of a parallax optic of fixed optical characteristics. The display device comprises a light emitting or modulating layer (7) between first and second electrode arrangements (5, 10, 11). The first electrode arrangement (5) comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes defining pixels of the display device. The second electrode arrangement comprises a plurality of counter electrodes (10, 11) arranged so that each of the pixel electrodes (5) faces a portion of each of the counter electrodes. The counter electrodes are controllable so as to select which portion of each pixel is active. This provides, in cooperation with the optical device (9) the plurality of display viewing modes.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image by spatial light modulation, and circuitry for switching liquid crystal in the panel between having a first configuration in a first mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible from a wide range of viewing angles, and having a second configuration in a second mode to cause an image displayed using the panel to be discernible substantially only from within a narrow range of viewing angles. Several types of display panel to achieve such in-panel switching between public and private viewing modes are disclosed.

Abstract: A display comprises a parallax optic (2), such as a combined parallax barrier and lens array, and a pixellated display device (1). The pixels of the display device (1) are arranged as groups cooperating with a parallax element (4) of the parallax optic (2). Each group comprises a first pixel (A) aligned with the centre of the parallax element (4), second and third pixels (B, C) on either side of the first pixel (A), and fourth pixels (D) shared with adjacent groups and disposed outside the second pixels (B, C). The parallax elements (4) make the different pixels of each group visible in different viewing regions. A control arrangement selects regions of the display and selects different combinations of the pixels of each group for image display within respective regions so as to provide simultaneously-present different viewing modes having different viewing range characteristics.

Abstract: A display is provided having a public viewing mode and a private viewing mode. The display comprises a display device (11), such as an LCD, which directs image-modulated light towards the whole of a public viewing region. The display device (11) displays a first image in the public mode and second and third spatially interlaced images in the private mode. A controllable liquid crystal device (10) is switchable between the public and private modes. In the public mode, light modulated by the first image has a first polarisation. In the private mode, light modulated by the second and third images is provided with second and third polarisations, respectively. An optical arrangement, comprising an angularly dependent polarisation changer (9) and a polariser (8) permits the passage of light of the first polarisation into substantially the whole of the public region. Light of the second polarisation is substantially restricted to a private viewing region within the public region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises an active matrix substrate (6) and a counter-substrate (7) provided with homeotropic alignment surfaces (11). A layer of nematic liquid crystal material is provided between the alignment surfaces (11) so as to form a vertically aligned nematic device. The substrates (6, 7) carry a pixel electrode arrangement and a counter-electrode arrangement which define a plurality of pixel regions. Each of least some of these regions has a pixel electrode (13), which may be split into two halves, and a counter-electrode (8) which are arranged to apply an electric field for controlling the liquid crystal director (12) out-of-plane tilt angle. A further electrode (14), for example in the form of a plurality of parallel fingers, cooperates with at least one of the other electrodes (8, 13) to apply a second electric field for controlling the director in-plane azimuth angle. Such a device may be used, for example, as a switchable public/private display.

Abstract: A display device is provided that comprises a liquid crystal display panel (2) for displaying an image by spatial light modulation. The image is represented by a plurality of image elements each having an image data value (7). The display device further comprises a display controller (1) arranged to determine a signal voltage to be applied to the panel (2) for each image element in dependence upon its image data value (7) and a secondary data value (8) for the element, there being a predetermined mapping between the data values and the signal voltage. The secondary data values (8) are arranged to vary across the image so as to introduce variations in luminance as a result of the mapping. The mapping and secondary data values (8) are mutually arranged to take account of the signal voltage to on-axis luminance response of the panel (2) so that the luminance variations introduced on-axis tend to balance locally through spatial averaging to, and hence would not be perceivable by, an on-axis viewer (3).

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a first alignment surface which induces a high pretilt greater than 45° but less than 90°; a typical value is 85°. The pretilt has a component parallel to the surface pointing in a predetermined direction. A second alignment surface induces a low pretilt which is less than 45° but greater than 0°; a typical pretilt is 5°. The low pretilt has a component parallel to the second surface which also points in the predetermined direction. A layer of crystal material is disposed in between the first and second surfaces. A novel liquid crystal mode is thus provided and is referred to as the “splay-twist mode”. Such a device may be used in a switchable public/private display.